Promoting Good Prostate Health

Prostate health has been on many men’s minds in recent years, partly due to increased awareness about prostate cancer. While concern is good and can help promote regular checks, there have also been many so-called natural products touted as aids to prostate health. It is important for patients to realize that not all natural supplements are tested or approved by the FDA. Some have been found by independent tests to be ineffective and some may have serious side effects. Men concerned about their prostate health should speak to their medical practitioners.

Unfortunately, men may have reason to worry. Some studies suggest that more than 70% of men who are age 50 or older will have an enlarged prostate gland at some point and should seek prostate enlargement treatment. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) may not be as frightening as prostate cancer, but it does create unpleasant symptoms. Luckily, BPH is treatable with medical intervention, and getting early treatment can make a dramatic difference in success levels. Men who have an prostate worries or concerns, therefore, should speak to their doctors promptly to ensure timely medical attention.

Most men notice a health issue with their prostate when they notice urgent urination and nighttime urination. The earliest signs of prostate problems is in fact getting up in the middle of the night to urinate. As symptoms progress, men may notice urinary incontinence, weak flow, renal problems, erectile dysfunction, and other symptoms.

In many cases, BPH is genetic and is not linked to cancer. Having BPH does not increase likelihood of cancer. However, cancer can be present independently of an enlarged prostate. That is one reason why men with prostate trouble should get a thorough check-up – a routine investigation of an enlarged prostate can reveal a cancer as well, which has a better chance of responding well to treatment if caught early. Even getting checked and finding no cancer can be important in bringing peace of mind.

In the past, many men believed that prostate trouble and decreased sexual function were a natural part of the aging process. Today, there are many treatment options for BPH and doctors now know that BPH or decreased sexual function do not have to be part of getting older; these are often treatable conditions. Men with BPH can find help with medications such as alpha receptor blockers, which relax a muscle in the prostate. There are also medications known as 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, which stop the enlargement of the prostate. In some cases, they may cause the gland to shrink in size as well. Some patients use these two medications together with anticholinergic drugs to help control bladder function. In addition to medications, there are outpatient minimally invasive therapies, such as Transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT) and Transurethral photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP).